In Indiana, a mother of three made a distressing discovery when she arrived home to find her children unconscious. It is alleged that their 24-year-old babysitter had taught them how to snort pills.
Deana Nicole Byrd was arrested and now faces charges of neglect of a dependant resulting in serious bodily injury, dealing a controlled substance with enhancing circumstances, and theft.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded when officers from the Evansville Police Department and Emergency Medical Services responded to a call about three children in need of medical assistance.
The children, aged 8, 9, and 15, were under the care of the babysitter at her residence on Althaus Avenue.
Medics revived the younger children, who were stumbling and struggling to enter the ambulance upon regaining consciousness.
The 15-year-old, however, remained unconscious until she was transported in the ambulance. One of the younger children reportedly disclosed to an officer that Byrd had given them some of her pills.
During a search of the house, authorities discovered broken orange pill capsules and a white powdery substance on the bedroom dresser. Additionally, a rolled-up Ramen noodle cup lid was found nearby.
The mother of the children stated that she had dropped them off the previous night and was scheduled to pick them up after work the next day. She had received no communication from the kids or the babysitter throughout the day.
When she arrived at the residence, she found Byrd alone on the porch, appearing impaired and speaking softly.
Concerned and unable to locate her children, the mother hurried upstairs to find her 15-year-old daughter unresponsive in Byrd's bedroom. She immediately called 911.
The other two children were found unconscious on the downstairs couch, responding only slightly after being shaken.
Confronting Byrd about the situation, the mother informed her that the authorities had been contacted. Byrd allegedly responded that she didn't want to go to jail for the children.
At the hospital, the 15-year-old revealed that Byrd had offered her and her brothers pills, including Klonopin, Adderall, and Lyrica.
The pills were allegedly demonstrated by Byrd on how to be broken open and snorted using a rolled-up Ramen noodle cup lid.
The 15-year-old recalled taking several of each pill, resulting in her and her brothers losing balance, experiencing difficulty standing, and vomiting.
Child services workers verified the accounts provided by the younger siblings, which matched the 15-year-old's statement.
These workers were already familiar with Byrd, as all three of her own children had previously been removed from her care.
When questioned by the police, Byrd claimed that the children must have accessed her pills on their own, mentioning that they liked to snoop around her home. She denied that either of the younger children had ever lost consciousness.
During the investigation, a prescription pill bottle for Adderall and Klonopin was found at Byrd's residence.
Furthermore, while being booked into Vanderburgh County Jail, a half-filled prescription bottle for Lyrica matching the broken capsules discovered at the house was found in Byrd's purse.
Byrd's bond was set at $20,000, and she has been ordered to have no contact with any of the three children.
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